Moravian College Graduate Early Casualty in Iraq War

(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) -- Christopher Scott Seifert ’97, a U.S. Army captain serving in the 101st Airborne Division in Kuwait, was one of the first American casualties of the Iraq war. He was 27 and was reportedly killed by a hand grenade thrown into his tent by a troubled fellow soldier.

He was married to another Moravian graduate, Theresa L. (Terri) Flowers ’97, and leaves a 4-month-old son, Benjamin.

Moravian College president Ervin J. Rokke said: "Chris was a vital presence among the students, faculty and staff who lived and learned with him at Moravian. We are proud to count him among Moravian's alumni, we are grateful for his service, and we are humbled by his sacrifice."

Chris was an active member of the Moravian College family. He majored in history, and his advisor, professor Robert Stinson, remembers him as quiet and respectful, an outstanding student who "always had a smile on his face."

As a member of ROTC, he often wore his combat boots and Army fatigues to class, Stinson said. "He was glad that he was in the ROTC program," he added. "This wasn’t something that he was doing to get some money for school. He thought that it would be a good line of work."

While at the College, Chris was a founding member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, whose current brothers wrote: "Although the actions of the war are thousand of miles from Bethlehem, the effects of this tragedy are felt by all. … Let us think about those serving our country, and the families of those abroad."

Chris was a 26-Pointer, a campus "ambassador" who took prospective students and their parents on tours of the College and answered their questions and concerns, recalls Bernard Story ’80, vice president for enrollment. Jack Ramsey remembers that Chris was a lighting technician for theater productions and a member of the drama club.

Seifert gave his community service time to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley. His family requested that memorial contributions be made to this organization.

His wife, Terri, also was an engaged member of the College community, as president of United Student Government and a member of the former Alpha Epsilon Pi sorority (which became Zeta Tau Alpha while she was a student), yearbook staff, governing board of the Haupert Union Building, and senior class gift committee. She also was a resident advisor. She graduated magna cum laude.

Moravian College is a private, coeducational, selective liberal arts college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, it is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college. For more information call (610) 861-1491 or visit the web site at www.moravian.edu.